Plymouth Gin

Plymouth Gin is a style and brand of gin that has been distilled on the same premises on the Barbican in Plymouth, Devon, since 1793. The site of production, the Plymouth Gin Distillery, was built in 1431 and is reputed to have once been a monastery of the Dominican Order. For this reason, it has traditionally been known as the "Blackfriars Distillery", and this name appears embossed on the gin bottles. The taste profile of the style has been described as "earthy", less dry and featuring more citrus notes than the London Dry Gin-style, of which Plymouth Gin is considered an offshoot, or subtype.

Plymouth Gin was the only spirit made in England, and one of only three gins in the world, that carried a geographical indication (GI) designation with the European Union, certifying its traditional origin. In 2015, the distillery's owners declined to pursue renewal of the GI, considering its protection was unneeded. This leaves only from Spain and (Vilnius gin) from Lithuania to carry GI status.

Plymouth was the favorite gin of legendary film directors Alfred Hitchcock and Orson Welles, as well as the American President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Product

The Plymouth Original Strength brand of gin is 41.2% alcohol by volume (ABV). It is different and slightly less dry than the more common style of gin, London Dry. This is due, purportedly, to a higher proportion of root ingredients, which bring a more 'earthy' feel to the gin as well as a softened juniper flavour. A 47% ABV (94 U.S. proof) version is distributed worldwide.

Plymouth also make a 'navy strength' variety of Plymouth Gin, which is 57% ABV (100° English proof), being the traditional strength demanded by the British Royal Navy. It was a tradition in the Royal Navy that all newly commissioned vessels receive a "Plymouth Gin Commissioning kit", a wooden box containing two bottles of navy strength Plymouth gin and glassware.

According to the distiller's website, Plymouth also produces a sloe gin, a gin fruit cup, and a "limited edition" single-origin juniper gin .

Background

In the first half of the 18th century, as a result of government policy and economic conditions, gin became a low-cost and readily available alcoholic beverage. It was widely consumed by the poor and contributed to considerable social problems, in what became known as the Gin Craze. Among those advocating for reforms that would address the situation was William Hogarth, whose 1751 engraving, '' Gin Lane'', formed part of his campaign. It illustrated the calamitous social ills ascribed to the use of gin. The negative reputation arising from these circumstances, coupled with the often poor quality, adulterated product of unregulated distilling, positioned gin as an undesirable beverage even decades after "anti-gin" legislation (notably the Gin Act 1751) had substantially reduced the adverse impacts of the "craze". In contrast, Plymouth Gin was viewed more favourably. The product was standardised and reliable, while its distillation occurred far from the slums of London where substandard gin had most often been both made and imbibed.

The global deployment of the British Royal Navy led to the renown and wide consumption of the Plymouth product. Plymouth Gin was very popular in the first part of the 20th century. Twenty-three gin-based cocktail recipes in the Savoy book of cocktails name Plymouth Gin specifically.

Commercial history

Today, there is only one brand of Plymouth Gin, ''Plymouth'', which is produced at the Blackfriars Distillery. It is the only remaining gin distillery in Plymouth. The building, constructed in 1431, has been in operation as a gin distillery since 1793. It opens onto what is now Southside Street.

The established distilling business of Fox & Williamson began the distilling of the Plymouth brand in 1793. Soon, the business was to become known as Coates & Co., which it remained until March 2004.

By the 1990s, sales of gin across the board had declined substantially, and Plymouth Gin specifically was doing poorly, with sales down to 7,000 cases a year; its owner, Allied Domecq, was focusing on Beefeater Gin, its one-time rival that was by then owned by the same company. In 1996, the brand was sold by Allied Lyons to a management group headed by Charles Rolls. In March of 1998, the new owners initiated a brand re-launch, positioning it as a premium brand with new packaging that recreated the original bottle, including a mock-engraving of its thirsty monk mascot positioned toward the bottom of the bottle, referencing the brand motto "when his feet are dry it’s time to buy."

After turning the company around, they sold it in 2005 to the Swedish company V&S Group, which also made Absolut Vodka. The brand is now owned and distributed by the French company Pernod Ricard as a result of its purchase of V&S in 2008.

The European Union (EU) granted Plymouth Gin (i.e., any gin of traditional style made in or near Plymouth), protected designation of origin (PDO) status. Under the GI scheme of the EU, the historical association of a food product with a region, and its traditional production, is codified and regulated. This gives protection from imitators not located within the designated places, or not using the approved methods of production, as such producers are not permitted to use the specified term for their products. Prior to the expiration of the PDO in February 2015, Pernod Ricard announced that they would not be applying for its continuation. The company considers it unnecessary for the gin's protected status, as they own the tradename, ''Plymouth Gin'', and their Black Friars Distillery has been the sole maker of the style for over 100 years.

Packaging

In 1998, the brand was relaunched by the new management team. The new packaging involved a re-creation of the original bottle and included a thirsty monk inside the bottle. It was said that when the monk's feet 'got dry', it was time for a new bottle. It was also restored to its original strength of 41.2%, and a Navy Strength of 57% introduced to remind drinkers that the brand was the official gin for the British Royal Navy.

In mid-2006, the bottle was changed by new owners V&S to an Art Deco style. The front of the bottle depicted the ship, ''Mayflower'', based upon the fact that when the Pilgrim Fathers set out for their journey to the New World, bad sea conditions and damage forced them to put into Plymouth harbour for shelter and essential repairs. Local tradition has it that some of them stayed in the monastery, which later became the distillery. In the same way as the monk's feet had purportedly indicated the need for re-stocking, it was now said that it was time to get a new bottle when the ''Mayflower'' 'no longer sails on gin'.

In January 2012, the packaging was again redesigned, this time returning to a more classical "shaving bottle" shape with a slightly green tint and the words "Est. 1793 – Black Friars Distillery" embossed on the front.

Accolades

Plymouth's Original Gin has won many awards over the years, including four double gold, four gold, one silver, and two bronze medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition between 2006–2016. In 2016, Plymouth received double gold for its Plymouth Gin (Original Gin) and gold for its Navy Strength Gin in this competition.

References

External links

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{{Gin distilleries in the United Kingdom

British products with protected designation of origin
English distilled drinks
Gins
Pernod Ricard brands
Plymouth, Devon